Impossible to price with so little information. Get three bids and go from there.

If you like your location and need the space, go for it. We did and it made a world of difference.

Magic doesn’t happen.

If u need the extra space then u r better off with adding the two room n def not a sunroom. Best to call in a few contractors for prices n decide if it’s something u can take on at this time. It definitely is not going to be on the cheap nor would u want a cheap price with shoddy work. Also keep in mind ur taxes will probably go up to.. good luck.

The cheapest way is to add a 1.5 or 2 car attached garage, and finish it up yourself. You could make it into 2 rooms plus a sun room.

summers,,,cheapest? really? are you aware of codes regarding garage conversions? "Finish it yourself?" what if she has no DIY skills, no tools or no time?

If you need more room, look into getting an equity line of credit or something for the add on.

We almost did that years ago at our suburb home, it was the cheapest to add on more sq ft. DH has some DIY skills though.

Garages do not meet legal habitable space requirements anywhere. If constructed to legal habitable space requirements, it would no longer be cheap. Or be a garage.

If you are expanding the living area, then do it the right way with proper plans and permitting for legal living area. Tacking on a garage and then doing a conversion (to inadequate living area) is the worst way to accomplish your goal. Don't take shortcuts, they will come back to bite you in the end.

My nextdoor neighbor did a garage conversion years ago without any issues. There is nothing to bite them. Lol We had a contractor came in did all the planning, but we didn't go through it. It's totally doable if you're handy. She mentioned she didn't want to spend too much, additions cost a lot these days. Maybe it's cheaper buy a bigger home..,,,,,,

Klaudia, Do you have a basement? Finishing a basement would be cheaper than building additions..,,,,

If you do an un-permitted garage conversion, I hope you're not planning on moving any time soon, because that is exactly the kind of thing that causes rude surprises when people come to sell.

I think my next door neighbor had permit to do that, the house has been sold once without any issues. There are a lot of houses in my neighborhood did that, I am sure people had to get permit for it, it had to be inspected by town. The town inspects everything here, even with a purchased shed. It’s just an idea, Klaudia can check with her town building dept......and you guys can check with yours too. How does that sound?

I agree garage conversions are not usually permitted without having to bring it up to code which means she might as well just build an actual addition and IMO a sun room really is not adding any really useful space if what you want are 2 more rooms.I do agree get some quotes because we have no way of telling you .

Why don’t you guys check with your town building department first? It’s totally doable. My neighbor has an in-law apt, it used to be a 2 car garage.

There are no advantages to doing a garage conversion except (possibly) cost. There are many disadvantages, not the least of which is working out the legal and permitting issues. You're far better off talking to several contractors and getting at least a ballpark idea of what you can afford to build.

In my area, changing the garage into living area is costly because you have to raise the garage floor to the finished floor level of the house plus insulate and do a bunch of other improvements that are not included in a garage. Best to start with a proper plan and get estimates as suggested above to build out the two rooms rather than have a garage conversion. BTW, if you convert the garage- it is likely to devalue your home rather than increase its value. Check with a Realtor as to the change in value with a garage conversion. It's not pretty - at least in my area.

Edit: the exception would be if this was done in a neighborhood where garage conversions are common.

It makes no sense to add a garage and then to convert it to a room. If you are building, just build the rooms rather than do it in a two step process.

It can be good looking, and very pretty indeed. It all comes down how you design it. Are you guys have eye sight problems? Just look around and pay attention. Your brains some how got locked in with one idea which it’s not doable. It must be turkey’s fault. Open your mind, just check with your town building department and talk to contractors, My neighbor’ house has 4 bedroom and 3.5 bath, a detached 2.5 garage was built later. The house is about 3000 sq ft, in a good neighborhood with top schools. You can’t tell there was a garage attached to the house at all. A beautiful home.

Just because you did a hack solution does not mean it it a suitable solution for someone else. No one “saves” a darn thing going that route. It is MORE expensive in the long run.

Again, I didn’t do it. Someone else I know did it. It was just an idea. You don’t have to like it. This is a place for ideas. If you don’t have any experience on this subject. Do you have any reason to say no? :-)

Each area, each house can be different, so check with your town building department and contractors. Anything is possible. It would be cheaper if you’re handy........

Someone with zero experience offering halfassed ideas vs someone with 40 years of varied design experience, including renovations and new construction? Including garage, barn, and other accessory buildings. I shouldn’t even be responding to this.

But ignorant and idiotic suggestions kinda do need correction because it is irresponsible to keep suggesting them. Amateur remuddling and illegal and impractical suggestions are the absolute worst part of Houzz. Other than the chutzpah of those that keep insisting that opinions trump facts. The sky is blue and water is wet. It doesn’t matter how many times you insist that it’s purple.

I offered the idea because I know my nextdoor has done that, we almost did the same. She doesn’t have to take it. She’d need to do more homework, it may not work out for her. I have seen a lot of houses here have done that. I mentioned this idea from facts. Is your 40 years experience in garage or something else,? Kitchen and bath? They are totally different subjects. Have you done any garage conversions? That’s my question to you.

Where did you get the idea garage conversion is illegal? All constructions need permits and inspections.

Converting a garage to living area is one good way to mess up a floorplan. Pulling a permit doesn't mean you end up with a good floorplan.

Repeatedly stating that the sun circles the earth, or that the earth is flat, doesn’t make it so. It only showcases the ignorance of the asserter in a pretty spectacular way.

You haven’t answered my question yet. Have you done any garage conversion in your life? “You don’t know what you are taking about! “ These are the words people told you in a garage conversion thread. Let me just refresh your memory. Don’t let that memory to the retire with you.

No, I haven't converted any garages. I'm the Realtor that has to show the sellers that have converted their garages (usually without a permit) that it hurts their sales value. I show them the comps with and without conversions. I've been in my profession for more than 35 years. I have experience in what a poorly executed addition or garage conversion will add - or subtract - to market value. I wouldn't convert a garage because of the damage that it causes market value in the neighborhoods in my area. You have no idea, you are describing what one neighbor did in your neighborhood and passing along poor advice to a poster that came for legitimate ideas to expand her home.

I have seen good results in my neighborhood, that’s why I want to have some input here. You can desgree with me but saying I have no idea it’s just rude. You have seen poorly executed ones without permits, that’s the huge difference right there. I am talking about well designed constructed ones here in a very nice neighborhood. You have your point of view, and I certainly can have mine! You tell me if I am against any laws in the US by telling what I know and what I see on this thread!!

The earth is not flat.

One of my previous houses had a garage that had been converted to one large living room immediately after building (so it was never used as a garage.) It was invariably colder than the rest of the house, there was a step down, the windows were at a weird height... If I wanted the living space I'd just do a proper addition in the first place.

If you have a full, dry basement, it may be the least expensive way of getting space (for now). Down the road, you may have more money with which to work.